Gael Monfils, Dominika Cibulkova earn 1st trips to Open quarters; Wozniacki awaits Sharapova

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Monfils, Cibulkova gain spots in US Open quarters

NEW YORK — The U.S. Open welcomed two new faces to the quarterfinals — France’s Gael Monfils and Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova.

Cibulkova upset 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 7-6 (4) in the fourth round Monday. Monfils held off two set points in the third to defeat fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-5, 7-5.

Cibulkova is the lowest-ranked player left in the women’s draw. The 45th-ranked Slovakian was a semifinalist at last year’s French Open but had never been past the third round at Flushing Meadows.

Kuznetsova was the two-time Grand Slam champion in Monday’s match but didn’t look it. The 11th-seeded Russian had 10 double-faults and 42 unforced errors. Kuznetsova reached a second U.S. Open final in 2007 but hasn’t made it beyond the fourth round since.

“I think she plays good, but my level is higher, and I have to win these matches,” Kuznetsova said.

The last three women’s quarterfinalists will be decided later Monday in matches pitting No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki against No. 14 Maria Sharapova; Andrea Petkovic against No. 7 Vera Zvonareva; and No. 31 Kaia Kanepi against No. 15 Yanina Wickmayer, who made last year’s semifinals.

On Sunday, No. 3 Venus Williams, No. 6 Francesca Schiavone, No. 2 Kim Clijsters and No. 5 Sam Stosur earned their spots in the quarterfinals. Stosur’s 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (2) win over No. 12 Elena Dementieva ended at 1:35 a.m., the latest finish for a women’s match in U.S. Open history. Her next opponent is Clijsters, who wrapped up her 6-2, 6-1 win over Ana Ivanovic shortly after the lunch hour Sunday.

“She’s got a 14-hour head start on me,” Stosur said. “She played first and I played last, so there’s not much bigger difference than that.”